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We are proud of what the African Development Bank is doing for Africa, says Dean of Africa Diplomatic Corps in India

31-Mar-2017

Left to right: Ambassador Woldemariam, President Adesina and AfDB Secretary-General Vincent Nmehielle.

The Dean of African Diplomatic Corps in India, Ambassador Alem Tsesaye Woldemariam of the State of Eritrea, has commended the African Development Bank (AfDB) for its steadfast commitment to ensure a better future for the continent.

Speaking in an interview following a meeting with a Bank delegation led by President Akinwumi Adesina and African Heads of Missions in New Delhi on Thursday, Woldemariam said the Bank has raised Africa’s rating across the world through its work, and especially through its High 5s development agenda.

“We are proud of what the African Development Bank is doing in Africa,” he said, echoing similar views expressed by several ambassadors who attended the meeting.

In addition to the excitement generated by the High 5s, the ambassadors cited some key Bank-financed projects such as Morocco’s Ouarzazate Solar Power Station and Kenya’s Menengai geothermal development project; among some the engagements that have raised the Bank’s standing in Africa and the world.

President Adesina had urged the diplomats to use their strategic position to advertise positive development in Africa and to support its economic endeavours.

He told them that most African countries have performed well in almost all domains in past decade, adding that the Bank’s High 5s priorities (Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa) would benefit from the continent’s resilience and immense assets to realise transformation.

Ambassador Woldemariam called for greater cooperation between Africa and India, suggesting that the continent stands to gain from cutting-edge technologies developed by India, which are adaptable to Africa’s development and economic transformation in areas like agriculture, irrigation and water management, as well as energy, among others.

“AfDB needs to work with India to disseminate and make these technologies available to African countries through training and apprenticeships,” he said.